Top 10 Clutch Quarterbacks of All Time

SI Staff | Aug 3, 2006

Top 10 Clutch Quarterbacks of All Time /

Top 10 Clutch Quarterbacks of All Time

Terry Bradshaw

The last spot on this list came down to Bradshaw and Roger Staubach, with the Steelers Hall of Famer getting the edge because of his four Super Bowl rings. Like many of the quarterbacks on this list, Bradshaw had a unique ability to keep his cool late in the game, and it rubbed off on his teammates as the Steelers dominated the 1970s.

Troy Aikman

The 1990s Cowboys were loaded with talent, but when a big game was on the line, they always turned to Aikman to bring home the victory. Aikman's statistics in big playoff games are incredible, beginning with his brilliant performance in the 1992 NFC Championship Game, in which the Cowboys beat the 49ers and became the conference's powerhouse.

Otto Graham

Few quarterbacks can even come close to matching Graham in postseason performance. He led the Browns to 10 straight title games and had four AAFC and three NFL championships. Some experts thought Graham would struggle when the Browns switched leagues in 1950, but he was just as clutch against the seemingly superior NFL.

Dan Marino

Marino never won a Super Bowl but has the second-most fourth-quarter comebacks in NFL history (37) and was at his best in the final two minutes of a game. His fake-spike and subsequent touchdown pass to Mark Ingram that beat the Jets in 1994 is one of the coolest plays ever by a quarterback. Dolphins coach Don Shula said he knew they were never out of a game with Marino at quarterback, and opponents hated seeing Number 13 over center when the clock was running down.

Joe Namath

Namath's guarantee that the Jets would win Super Bowl III over heavily favored Baltimore is all you need to know. Broadway Joe delivered a 16-7 victory, shifting the balance of power between the NFL and AFL and paving the way for the merger. Namath loved playing under pressure and won several big games for the Jets.

Bart Starr

His loss to the Eagles in the 1960 NFL Championship was his last postseason defeat ever. Starr was somewhat overshadowed by the Vince Lombardi mystique and all the talent around him, but the steady quarterback made the Packers click and was at his best in big games. It was Starr who called the play on his famous game-winning sneak in the "Ice Bowl" against the Cowboys.

Tom Brady

Nothing fazes the 28-year-old Patriots quarterback. The more pressure is on him, the more he seems to relax and make the right play. Brady's legend began to truly blossom when he led New England to a game-winning drive in Super Bowl XXXVI. He's since led them to two more championships and continues to play his best football when the game is on the line.

John Elway

He led the Broncos to an NFL-record 47 fourth-quarter comeback wins, including some of the most dramatic victories of all time. His 98-yard march down the field to beat the Browns in the 1986 AFC Championship Game is considered by many the greatest drive in league history. And Elway stepped up on the biggest stage later in his career, leading the Broncos to two Super Bowl wins.

Johnny Unitas

He became a superstar when he led the Colts to a thrilling come-from-behind win in the 1958 NFL Championship against the Giants, considered by many the greatest game ever played. Johnny U was seemingly impervious to pressure, and you could never count his Colts out of a game.

Joe Montana

His career was filled with dramatic performances under pressure. Starting with "The Catch" in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, Montana always found a way to help the Niners win the big game. "Joe Cool" never let pressure affect his play and was at his best in the national spotlight. He was 4-0 in Super Bowls and was MVP of the big game three times.

Published Aug 3, 2006

SI STAFF